Petition to Keep Newtown Schools Open
We, the undersigned, urge the Newtown Board of Education to vote "No" to closing any school in Newtown for the 2016-2017 school year.  The Facility and Enrollment Committee has not demonstrated sufficient cost savings to justify closing Hawley School.  The decision to change the grade configuration in the Newtown School District to K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12 based primarily on cost savings and facility efficiency is undesirable.  The proposal to close Hawley School to address a temporary decline in enrollment would indefensibly and  permanently eliminate the only historic school in the Newtown School District.   The closing of any Newtown school on the same day we welcome the opening of Sandy Hook School would be immeasurably disruptive to our healing community at this crucial time in Newtown's history.  We urge the Board of Education to vote "No" to closing any Newtown School for the 2016-2017 school year.